Cutting apparatus



1942- D. D. ROGERS CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 7, 1959 6 SheetsShee 1 QMW Daniel D.Ho7ers Dec. 8, 1942.

D. D. ROGERS CUTTING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. '7', 1959 Dec. 8, 1942. D. D. ROGERS 2,304,421

CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 7, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet I5 1.9 1" "l 8 I I l I I a l I Z 17 16 f' 1:- F1": f:

L2 1% 77\ 23 6 1 gig? ,0 22 Zia 7 Ill/III [1 I IIIIIIII/I/4'I game/who'll 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 DaniciDRoyers 3% b azi- Dec. 8, 1942. D. D. ROGERS CUTTING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 7, 1959 3 v wem bo'a Daniel 111107878 Patented Dec. 8, 1942 C'UTTIN G APPARATUS Daniel D. Rogers, Columbia, S. 0.; Laura L. Rogers, administratrix of said Daniel D. Rogers, de-

ceased Application September 7, 1939, Serial No. 293,835

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cutting apparatus. It is concerned more directly with the cutting of vegetation, and is largely intended for use in the maintenance of grass and similar growths along the sides of highways in a presentable appearance, and to. do so in such an effective manner that stumps, rocks, poles and the like will not offer any impediment to doing a good job of trimming.

Inasmuch as obstructions such as stumps, poles and the like are commonly i'ound'at roadsides, particular attention was paid to devising a construction which would yield if one of these were inadvertently struck, and also a construction which would enable cutting around such obstructions at least to a degree. Still further attention has been paid to providing for an arrangement wherein both slopes or banks of grass covered ditches could be cut. In'iact the improved cutting apparatus is universally operable in the class of work for which it is intended.

With this premise in mind the objects of the invention are as follow:

First, to provide a cutting and trimming machine specifically intended for use in conjunction with tractor pulling power although not necessarily so, the cutter bar being capableof cutting operation in any position within limits, either high or low, or at any vertical angle within a 180 sector.

Second, to provide a cutting apparatus of the v foregoing type wherein the cutter bar is subject to an automatic, so-called break-back action, in other. words, an automatic release or break from its holding detent when encountering an obstruction in its path thereupon to swing back in a retracted position until restored.

Third, to provide a cutting apparatus that will cut vegetation on ditch banks, slopes, hedges, terraces and shoulders and any angle within the foregoing 180 limit, and at the same time be ready to automatically break-back to avoid damage to the cutter bar if a stump, stone or other obstruction should be encountered in any of the aforesaid positions.

Fourth, to provide a cutting apparatus in which the driving head constitutes a two-way swivel, this feature-having the advantage of permitting the head and the cutter bar to swing either up and down or back at any cutting angle.

Fifth, to provide a hydraulic suspension and lift for the driving head and cutter bar respectively enabling the manipulation of these parts with great facility, said suspension including cables which provide for enough slack to let the cutter bar ride freely with the contour of the ground.

Sixth, to provide a movable arm for the mounting of the driving head and cutter bars, these latter parts being carried by the otherwise free extremity of said arm which, in turn, is carried by the tractor chassis from which it extends, this arrangement having a number of advantages one of which is to center the power transmission and housing units in a ditch so that the cutter bar can operate on the opposite bank.

Seventh, to provide a dove-tail driving head and cutter bar adjustment for easily and effectively registering the sickle blades with the guards or prongs.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings .in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved cutting apparatus, illustrating a part of the tractor or equivalent draft vehicle by which said apparatus is carried.

Figure 2 is a fractional plan view of the driving head and shoe, illustrating the break-back latch in section.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken substantially on the line 3-4 oi Fig. 1 illustrating the adaptation of the driving head to a chain drive.

Figure 4 is a detail horizontal section as though taken on the line 44 oi Fig. 3, illustrating the adaptation of the driving head to a belt drive.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantiallyon the line 5-5, of Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the belt drive taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the cutting apparatus illustrating another form of the invention wherein the break-back action is limited by a restraining means.

Figure 8 is a detail horizontal section of the restraining means.

Figure 9 is a cross section taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Figure 10 is a cross section taken substantially on the line l0l0 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 11 is a cross section taken on the line l of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a cross section taken on the line l2-l2 of Fig. '7, most of the structure being shown in side elevation.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 12,

In carrying out the invention use is made of a tractor I (Fig. 1) as the draft vehicle, A tractor is nam:d merely for illustration because the cutting apparatus may be carried by other types of equipment, the only requirement being that there shall be facilities for driving the cutting apparatus, preferably from a mechanical power source. The tractor I includes chassis members 2 as well as the steering and drive wheels 3, 4. The direction of motion is as indicated by the arrow a (Fig. 1).

Several modifications of the invention are disclosed herein,,but these are concerned with details for the operation of the driving head and in details for the retention of the driving head as well as its attached cutter bar in a normal operating position which consists of its right angular relationship to the chassis members 2 (Fig. In all forms of the invention use is made of a carrying means which doesthe actual carrying of the driving head 6, the shoe 1 and cutter bar 8. The driving head has a coupling 9 th the carrying means 5, providing for an up and down swinging of the driving head, shoe and cutter bar in reference to the carryin means 5 as well as a backward turning which is herein known as the break-back action, all without necessarily changing the position of the carrying means although this is provided for as is presently seen.

The carrying means 5 essentially is an arm it. Actually it is a tubular casing, but whether this is a solid tube or is built of sections bolted together is immaterial. In Figs. 1, 3 and 5 it houses a drive chain it. This chain is driven by a sprocket (2 (Figs. 3 and 5) on a counter shaft l3. This counter shaft is journaled in bearings id of any appropriate type, this being carried by one of the chassis members 2. The. counter shaft 63 serves another additional purpose to driving the chain ll, namely it constitutes the hinge pin on which the carrying means 5 and all of its attached parts can be swung upwardly in reference to the tractor.

This swinging is designated by the dotted line position in Fig. 3, see arrow b. The counter shaft l3 carries a pulley IE to which a driving belt it is applied after traversing several properly situated guide pulleys l'l. Said belt is also applied to a driver (8 which is carried by a drive shaft it. This shaft is suitably supported on the chassis of the tractor, and is adapted to be driven from the power source carried thereby.

The lower end of the chain H is applied to a sprocket on the driving head shaft 2!. This shaft constitutes the hinge pin on which the shoe 1 and cutter bar 8 are adapted to be swung'either up or down (arrow 0, Fig. 3). This can be acthe set screws t5 will provide a double means of complished without disturbing the position of the arm Ill. The swinging of the shoe 1 and cutter bar 8 can be accomplished from any stated posi-' tion of the arm It in reference to the tractor, within limits. The driving head 6 comprises a casting which can be made in any one of a variety of ways to suit the mechanism with which it is immediately concerned.

In Fig. 5 it comprises the casting 22 which has upright and horizontal parts 23, 24. The upright part 23 has a hub 25 which fits a bore 26 in the lower end 21' of the arm Hi. It is this interfitting of the hub 25 with the lower end 21 that constitutes the previously mentioned coupling 9. The part 24 has a hub 25 which fits a bore 26 in an extension presently mentioned, the result- .ing coupling allowing for a horizontal swinging of the cutter bar 8 in reference to the driving head 6.

A crank shaft 28 is Journaled in the horizontal part 24 and in a hollow extension 29 which is suitably amxed to the casting 22. This extension is primarily for the purpose of housing the crank 30 and affording room for its operation. The crank shaft 28 stands in the vertical position shown. The crank 30 is made as a part of the shaft and revolves in the horizontal plane. It has a link or pitman connection 3i with the head 32 (Fig. 3) of a pitman 33. Said pitman has bearing in a packing gland 34 the purpose of the packing being to retain the oil in the hollow extension 29.

Said pitman 33 has connection with the head 35 of a sickle bar 36. For this purpose the head 35 is part of a bracket, the base 31 of which is riveted at 38 to the sickle bar (Fig. 3) The pitman 33 has rubber shock absorbers 39 mounted upon it on each side of the head 35. These shock absorbers comprise rubber inserts which are backed by metal washers 4B. Nutsti are screwed on to the threaded extremity of the pitman 33.

The foregoing driving connection between the crank shaft 28 and the sickle bar 3b is responsible for the reciprocation of the latter upon the cutter bar 8. This bar is equipped with prongs or guards Q2. The sickle bar 35 carries knives t3 (Fig. 1) which work back and forth in reference to the guards. The result is that the vegetation is, cut off as the mower is advanced therealong. Occasionally it is necessary to make an adjustment between the guards at and knives 53in order to secure a proper registration. The amount of adjustment is ordinarily slight, and it is obtained by either screwing the nuts ll inwardly against the shock absorbers or backing them off, the yielding of the rubber inserts in the first instance producing an adjustment of the sickle bar 36 in one direction, and their expansion in the other instance producing the adjustment in the opposite direction. 0

A dove-tail slot M (Fig. 3) provides for the mounting of the cutter bar 8. The dove-tail shape of this slot is indicated at it in Fig. 12. The end of the cutter bar is shaped to suit the slot. It will be positioned in the slot in any desired way, but in Fig. 1 is it shown adjustably mounted by means of set screws passing through slots 35a. in the shoe "i so that when the cutter bar has been adjusted these screws are tightened to hold the cutter bar in its adjusted position. The adjustment of the nuts 4! in connection with the adjustment of the cutter bar by properly registering the cooperating cutting elements on the bar 8 and the sickle bar 30.

v Reverting to the internal structure of the driv- .ing head 6, it is seen in Fig. 5 that the shafts 2!,

28 are geared together by a pair of pinions 46, ill. The driving power of the shaft 2| is thus transmitted to the crank shaft 28 in an obvious manner. A cover 48 (Fig. 5) may be fixed in place over these pinions so as to exclude dirt. A sheave quadrant 49 -is aflixed to the upright part 23 of the casting 22 or to some equivalent portion thereof. This quadrant constitutes a part of a hydraulic suspension and lift generally designated 50 in Fig. 9. Said lift is. shown in Figs. 9 and 12 only, but it is tobe understood that the'identical lift is used inconjunction with all of the other forms of- .the invention.

Referring now to Fig. 9 it is seen that the quadmm as has a cable 5| attached to it. Said cable is coupled at 52 to the rod 53 of a plunger 54 that works in the barrel 55. Said barrel is pivoted at 88 to a bracket 81 which extends of! from a framing 88. Said framing "is attached to the chassis members 2. In this instance the latter are shown tubular, but it is obviously immaterial what the cross section of these members is. Bracket 51 is hinged at 81'.

A valve member 59 (Fig. 9) controls the flow of pressure fluid between the barrel and a pressure fluid source 88. Said valve is turnable in the casing 8| by a handle 82. A pair of pipes 88, extend from the casing 8| to the opposite end of th barrel 55. Similarly a pair of pipes 85, 88 extend from the valve casing 8| to the respective high pressure and low pressure sides 81, 88 of the source 88. The valve member 59 is of the twin port type. Said member could be substituted by some other valve arrangement as long as the substitute accomplishes the desired purpose.

A movement of the handle 62 to the dotted line position d alters the neutral setting of the valve ports 50 that pressure fluid is delivered to the bottom end of the barrel 55 by way of the pipe 88. Fluid is discharged ahead of the plunger 54 to the low pressure side 88 by way of the pipes 84, 88. The result is a counterclockwise turning of the sheave 49 (arrow e, Fig. 9) with a corresponding swinging ofthe cutter bar on the hinge pin 2|. A movement of the handle 62 to the dot and dash line position I (Fig. 9) will admit high pressure fluid to the upper end of the barrel 55. The operator will have to use his judgment in this respect because the weight of the cutter bar will cause it to move clockwise (arrow g; Fig. 9) when the fluid is permitted to flow out from the nether side of the plunger 54.

Thus it is seen that the driving head 8 with its carried cutter bar 8 is capable of being swung on the shaft 2| as a hinge pin. The amuont of permissible swinging is approximately 188 as denoted by the arrows e, 9, (Fig. 9)

The zoneof operation of the cutter bar 8 is subject to regulation by a similar contrivance. The arm I8 has a clip 69 attached to it in some suitable way. A cable 18 has one of its ends secured to said clip, its other end being coupled at H to'a rod 12 of a plunger 13 inside of the barrel I4. Said barrel is pivoted at I to the foregoing bracket 51. The two barrels are thus adapted to swing as may be needed. In each case the respective cables 5|, 18 provide a flexible connection which, although suspending the driving head in its parts, have'enough latent slack to compensate for any slight vibration of the cutter bar as when small uneven places in the ground are encountered, thereby to let the cutter bar ride freely with thecontcur of the ground without the danger of injury to the suspension apparatus. Such injury would occur if the connec-. tions between the hydraulicbarrels and the driving head 8 and arm I8 were rigid. I

A valve member 16 (Fig. 9) controls the flow of p sition I! (Fig. 9) so that the cutter bar 8 will not drag the ground.

It is easy to understand that any position of the arm I8 can be secured in respect to the tractor chassis, and any position of the driving head 8 and cutter bar 8 can be secured in respect to the arm I8 by properly manipulating the valves 59, I8. The mower is thus capable of being adpension and lift therein, other details shown here I are now described. It is'to be noted first of all that the'formerdrive chain II is now substituted pressure fluid to and from the barrel 14. Th s is a twin ported valve, and it is turnable in a casing 11 by means of a handle 18. This casing has pipes 19, 88 leading to the lower and upper by a shaft 83 (Fig. 10). This shaft is supported by suitable bearings 84 inside of the arm I8 which now appears as a true tube. pulley 85 at the upper end and a bevel gear 86 at the lower end. The pulley is driven by a belt 81"from a driver 88. This driver will be recognized as the equivalent of the driver I8 (Fig. I). Said pulley and driver are also shown in' Fig. 7 which is to be read in conjunction with Figs. 18, 12 and 13.

The support of the arm I8 in said Figs. 7, 9, 12 and 13 is derived from a hinge pin 89 (Fig. 9). This hinge pin is the equivalent of the cutter shaft I3 insofar as the hanging of the arm is concerned. In each case the arm I8 is adapted to swing up and down on the hinge pin (Fig. 9) or its equivalent thereof (Figs. land 5). The hinge pin branches off to one side of a head 98 (Fig. 11). Said head has a pendent pin 9.I which is socketed at 92 in a support 93 (Fig. 9) which is clamped to an adjacent chassis member 2.

Said pins 81, 9| are at right angles to each other and they constitute a two-way hinge. A leaf 94, in the form of a fairly heavy plate, swings from the hinge pin 89. Said leaf has an opening 95 which is occupied by the tubular arm I 9. Said arm projects through the leaf 94 and is turnable in the opening 95. Said leaf carries a screw, stud 96. The studextends through a slot 91 (Fig. 11) in a segment 98. I

Said segment is secured to the tubular arm I8 at 99, for example, by a weld. A thumb screw I88 is screwed onto the stud 98 against the segment 98. The purpose of this arrangement is to secure a turning adjustment of the tubular arm I8. This adjustment is possible only with that type of the invention wherein use is made of a drive shaft such as 83. It is not readily used in conjunction with that form embodying the drive chain II (Fig. 3) or the drive belt in Fig. 4.

In making the adjustment the thumb screw I88 is loosened and the segment 98 is turned one way or the other in reference to the pendent leaf 94. This cants the. guards 42 either up or down because the result of said adjustment is to Slightly turn the entire assemblage I8, 8 and 8, providing for a greater or less depth of cut.

Reverting to the gear 86 (Fig. 10) it is seen that said gear meshes with and drives a corresponding gear I8I on a crank shaft I82. This crank shaft is the equivalent of the crank shaft 28 (Figs. 3 and 5). The difference is that the crank shaft I82 is horizontal. Consequently this crank. I82 (Fig. 13) revolves in the vertical plane. Said crank has a link connection I84 to the head I85 of the pitman I86. From there on the struc- Said shaft has a ture is identical with that already described in conjunction with Fig. 3. i

. In the instant form of the invention now under discussion the driving head 6 is shown to comprise a casting I01 which is the equivalent of the. previously mentioned casting 22 (Fig. 5). This casting has a hub I08 which fits in the bore I09 in the enlarged lower end IIO of the tubular arm III. The casting I'I has a hollow extension II I which accommodates the crank I03 and other parts of the mower drive. In this instance the extension III is integral with the casting I01 and is capable of swinging only in the vertical plane.

'For this purpose the attached sheave quadrant H2 (Fig. 13) is rabbeted at I03 to contain a rib H4 on the lower end H0. The attachment of the sheave is made to the casting iIII. The rabbet and rib coupling produces a swivel which permits the foregoing vertical swinging of the extension MI in reference to the arm I 0. Horizontal swinging is not provided for here as in Fig. 5, this function now being transferred to the previously mentioned pendent pin 9| of the two-way hinge.

While still on the subject ofthat form of the invention in Figs. 7 to 13, 'note' is made of the braces II5 (Figs. '7 and 12) which are suitably clamped at M6 to the arm I0 and reach out to forks I I! in which they are inserted and. to which 7 they are pivoted by hinge pins H8. The forks mon center with the crank shaft I02, said. shaftand hinge pins constitute the swivel on which vertical turning is accomplished when the hydraulic suspension means is actuated as already described.

Reference is now made to the break-back means upon which considerable emphasis is placed herein. The break-back means in Figs. '7 to 13 provides for only a 45 break-back action of the driving head and cutter ba'r" assemblage. It constitutes a restraining means and its function is to keep said assemblage in a normal mowing position straight out from the vehicle as shown in Fig. 7. Said break-back or restraining means comprises a shaft 0 (Figs. 7 and 8) and a tubular housing I20 in telescopic relationship. The inner end of the shaft has a sleeve I2 I aflixed to it (Fig. 8). Said sleeve constitutes a stop and it is adapted to engage a corresponding but longer sleeve I22 aflixed to the inside of the housing I20. The sleeve I22 constitutes an inner stop, and it is readily seen that when the shaft H9 and housing I20 are pulled apart, the corresponding horizontal turning movement of the cutter bar assemblage will be limited by the engagement of the two sleeves. j

Detent mean combined with the telescopic shaft I I9 and housing I20 normally resists the tendency to extend and thus plays a partin the restraining function of said shaft H9 and housing I20. Said detent means consists of a ferrule I23 which is afiixed to the housing I20 and carries a small cylinder I24 that extends off to one side. There is communication between said cylinder and the interior of the sleeve I22 through suitable openings, to accommodate a ball I25 which is pressed into a recess I26 in the shaft II9 by a fairly strong spring I21. Said spring has a threaded nut I28 for it abutment and ad- :Iustment as to tension. Said spring bears against a follower I29 which has direct contact with the ball I25.

The outer end of the shaft H9 has a two-way hinge connection I30 with a bracket I3I that is affixed to the contiguous chassis 2. This twoway hinge accommodates both vertical and horizontal swinging movements of th tubular arm I0 on the previously described two-way hinge 99, 9| (Fig. 9). A rod I32 (Fig. '7) has a two-way hinge connection I33 to one of the forks 1, also for the purpose of accommodating the foregoing movements of the arm I0. jSaid rod is screwed at' I 34 (Fig. 8) into a" threaded insert I35 fixed in one end of the housing I20. This is for the purpose of adjustment and the adjustments accomplished by lifting the rod I32 out of the hinge connection I33, giving itthe requisite number of turns and then-setting it back in the hinge connection.

Reference is next made to Figs. 1 to 5. The break-back means disclosed here provides for a break-back action. The cutter bar assemblage is adapted to swing back to the dotted line positioni (Fig. l) to constitute a full 90 turn, as distinguished from Fig. '7 wherein a turn of only half thatamount can be made. Moreover, the break-back means of Figs. 1 to 5 provides for a total disconnection of the restraining means whereas in Fig. '7 the restraining means simply elongates but never disconnects. Use is made of a trussed frame I36 (Figs. 1 and 5). This frame is swung from the counter shaft I3 (Fig. 5). The latter has set collars I31 which aid in holding the trussed frame in position. Said frame prevents twisting of the mower while the cutter.

bar 3 is cutting at any vertical angle (arrows c, Fig.

To this end the frame I 36 has a detent I99 which is socketed at I39 (Fig. 5). Said detent fits in a fork I40 upstanding from the shoe I. One of the tines of the fork carries a cylinder I4I which has communication with the inside of the fork through a tapered hole I42. Said hole provides a seat for a ball I43 that is pressed into the socket I39 by a spring I 44. One end of said spring abuts a nut I45 which provides for th adjustment of its tension, the other end of the spring abutting a follower I46 which has direct contact with the ball.

Under ordinary working conditions the spring catch which the ball I43 comprises is strong enough to keep the shoe andcutter bar assemblage connected to the trussed frame I36. It is to be observed in Fig. 5 that the spring latch is directly on a center with the shaft 2 I. The spring catch is thus an element completing the hinge of which the shaft 2I was previously described as being the pin. Thus any vertical turning of the shoe and cutter bar assemblage (arrows c, Fig. 3) occurs on the common hinge 2|, I43, 'but if the cutter bar should strike an obstruction, such as a stump or post, the spring latch I43 would yield, permitting the shoe and cutter bar assemblage to spring back (arrow 1', Fig. 2).

It will be understood by now that the sickle bar 36 (Figs. 1 and '7) can be reciprocated either by a chain or shaft drive. Figs. 4 and 6 illustrate another mode ,of driving, namely by means of a pair of V-belts I41. These belts are secreted in the tubular arm I0 as before. Their lower ends are applied to a double V pulley I48. 'Ihis pulley is attached to a horizontal crank shaft I49. This shaft constitutes the hinge for the shoe and cutter bar assemblage. It is on this hinge that said assemblag is swung vertically, distinguishing from Fig. 5 in which the crank shaft 20 constitutes the center of a hinge on which said assemblage is swung horizontally.

The shaft I49 has a crank I50 which has a link connection I5I to the head I52 of a pitman I53. Said parts are contained by a hollow extension I54 of a driving head casting I55. Said casting has a swivel connection at I56 with the lower end of the arm II). The remainder of the structure from th pitman I53 out is the same as that already described in conjunction with Fig. 3.

Mention was made of the pressure fluid source 50 (F18. 9). This source may involve any appropriate mechanism for the purpose, but the preferred mechanism consists of a hydraulic pump I51 (Fig. 12) and tank I58. The pipe connections shown in Fig. 9 are not joined to the tank I58 in Figs. 7 and 12 to avoid an unnecessary complication. It is necessary to say that the pump constitutes the high pressure side 51 and the tank the low pressure side 68. The pump is driven by a belt and pulley arrangement I50 (Fig. 7) from any properly rotating shaft I60 of the tractor.

The operation is readily understood. The invention consists of two major forms. These are illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 and in Figs. '7, 9 and 12, the distinction existing in the different arrangements of the break-back means. This break-back means is one of the important factors of the invention, its purpose being to permit a yielding of the shoe and cutter bar assemblage when striking a major obstruction in any mowing position.

In the first form th restraining means, typifled by the spring catch I43 (Fig. 5), makes an actual disconnection from the frame I35 which can be pressed back to the chassis members, while in th second form of the invention (Fig. 7)

there is never a disconnection but only an ex-' tension of the restraining means H9, I20 to accommodate the turning of the shoe and cutter In either case said assemblage is restored to its right angular mowing position bar assemblage.

In Figs. '1, 9 and 12 the arm I0 can be turned both vertically and horizontally on the two-way hinge 89, 0 I. The shoe and cutter bar assemblage I, 8 may turn vertically only, the shaft I02 (Fig. 13) providing the hinge.

I claim:

1. Cutting apparatus comprising a shoe, cutter bar and sickle bar assemblage, an arm extending oil from a transporting vehicle and constituting carrying means forsaid assemblage, hinge means by which said arm is mounted at one end tosaid vehicle, a driving head serving as a coupllng between the other end of said arm and the shoe,

' driving means going down inside of the arm, terof th invention. Its purpose is to sustain the arm I0 in a given angular position and to sustain the shoe and cutter bar assemblage in the desired relationship'to the arm. There can be a mutual inter-adjustment or the entire cutter bar assemblage can be adjusted in reference to the chassis. According to this principle, the cutting can be done on either near or far back of a ditch, or by suitably elevating the assemblage the mower can be made to trim the tops of a hedge.

It is thought unnecessary toenlarge upon the facility with which the machine can be adjusted, its purpose being obvious from the description above and from the drawings. In Figs. 1, 3 and 5 the arm I0 is only capable of swinging up and down on the shaft I3 which serves as a hinge pin. The driving head 6 is swiveled to the end of the arm and can be turned vertically independently of the arm as already pointed out, the shaft 2| (Fig. 5) acting as the hinge. The shoe and cutter bar assemblage I, 8 is capable of turning independently in the horizontal direction, the shaft 28 (Fig. 5) then acting as the center of a hinge.

minating in driving connections within the driving head between said driving means and said sickle bar, said driving connections including a shaft parallel to said hinge means and in turn comprising a hinge on which the assemblage is turnable, independent fluid suspension means for the arm and its carried assemblage, being independently operable to selectively turn the arm and said assemblage on the respective hinges to desired altitudes, and flexible elements tied in between the suspension means and the respective arm and assemblage, permitting yielding of the assemblage alone or together with the arm upon overriding a slightly high place in the ground.

2. Cutting apparatus comprising a shoe, cutter .bar and sickle bar assemblage, an arm extending is turnable in up and down directions, a sheave quadrant ailixed to the driving head and centered on said shaft, and a suspension and lift device carried by said vehicle including a flexible connection to said sheave and being operable to pull in and let out th connection thus to turn the assemblage on said shaft.

3. Cutting apparatus comprising a shoe, cutter bar and sickle bar assemblage, an arm turnably mounted at one end on a transporting vehicle and extending off therefrom to carry said assemblage, a driving head coupling .the other end of said arm to said assemblage, telescopic restrain ing means coupled between the shoe and vehicle keeping said assemblage in a normal'mowing' position straight out from the vehicle, and suspension means on the vehicle sustaining the assemblage in said position, but being yieldable upon a breakback action of said restraining means when the cutterbar strikes an obstruction to allow a turning back of said arm and it carried assemblage.

4. Cutting apparatus comprising a shoe, cutter bar and sickle bar assemblage, an arm turnably mounted at one end by a transporting vehicle and extending off therefrom to carry said assemblage, a driving head coupling the other movable obstruction, and suspension means on.

the vehicle sustaining the assemblage and being yieldable to said turning back action.

-5. Cutting apparatus comprising a shoe, cutter bar and sickle bar vassemblage, an arm, extending oil from a transporting vehicle and constituting carrying means for said assemblage, a two-way hin e providing the mount for the arm upon said vehicle, permitting vertical and horizontal swing ing 01' said arm, means connecting the shoe to the arm and constituting avertically swingable hinge, a hydraulic suspension and lift device ineluding a pair of barrels, a bracket to which said a,so4,4a1

cordingly, said connections being yieldable to a horizontal swinging of the arm when said assemblage strikes an obstruction.

. DANIEL D. ROGERS 

